Employers encouraged to apply for funding through two streams
The federal government is investing $40 million over three years in the Union Training and Innovation Program (UTIP) to ensure that Canadians have the training they need to access these jobs.
Eligible organizations are encouraged to apply for funding through two streams: Investments in Training Equipment and Innovation in Apprenticeship. The government will be accepting proposals from eligible organizations until Aug. 28, 2020.
"Skilled tradespeople are a key component of Canada's workforce. Their work is critical to several essential sectors during the pandemic, and they will continue to support the Canadian economy as it moves towards economic recovery,” says Carla Qualtrough, minister of employment, workforce development and disability inclusion. “This investment will help Canadians get the training they need to start exciting and well-paying careers in the trades."
Through the program, the government provides $25 million annually to support union-based apprenticeship training, innovation and broad-based partnerships in the Red Seal trades. In 2017-18, more than 3000 people participated in the UTIP Stream 1 projects. the government provides $25 million annually to support union-based apprenticeship training, innovation and broad-based partnerships in the Red Seal trades
Eligible projects will help unions across Canada improve the quality of training through investments in equipment and materials and support innovation and broad-based partnerships to address challenges faced by apprentices, says the government.
“The program will also help to reduce barriers to participation and success in the trades among underrepresented groups such as women, newcomers, persons with disabilities and visible minorities including Black Canadians.”
Canada's Building Trades Unions (CBTU) welcomed the development.
“The continuation of the UTIP grants in assisting in workforce development across Canada will continue training the next generation of Canada's skilled trade workforce,” says Sean Strickland, executive director at CBTU. “This much-needed funding goes a long way to build life-long careers and, most importantly, allows the highly skilled graduates to both enter and remain in Canada's middle class."
Even before the pandemic, business leaders have indicated that they are worried about the availability of key skills in the economy. And nearly a third of young people globally feel their current education is not preparing them with the skills they need to get jobs, according to UNICEF.
Earlier this month, Future Skills Centre (FSC) announced it is investing $1.62 million in Food Process Skills Canada’s to help the food and beverage processing industry and its workers adapt to change.
